Rail-clamp for hoisting and conveying apparatus



(NoModel.)

P. RASCH.

RAIL GLAM POR HQIST'ING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS. No. 568,071. PatentedSept. 22, 1896.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

n4: Nnnms PETERS co. vunwvumb.. wAsNlNu-rom nv c,

UNITED STATES .ATENT EEICEo PETER RAsoH, oE CLEVELAND, omo.

RAIL-CLAMP FOR HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming pait of Letters Patent No. 568,071, dated'September 2.2, 1896. Application led October 25, 18'95. Serial No.566,825. (No model.)

To all whom it may aon/cern:

Be it known that I, PETER RASOH, a subject of the King of Denmark, and aresident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps for Hoistingand Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode inwhich I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailone mechanical form embodying the invention, such detail constructionbeing but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of theinvention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a side elevation of onetruck for a hoisting and conveying apparatus, illustrating theapplication of my invention; Fig. II, a section on the line II II inFig. I, illustrating the clamping device; and Fig. III, an edge view ofthe clamping device, showing the outer frame portions broken away.

In hoisting and conveying apparatus which is supported upon uprightframe structures traveling upon rails, for the purpose of rendering'theapparatus transportable to the places where the apparatus is to beemployed itis of importance to have the truck-bases of such uprightstructures secured to the rails in such manner that the structures maybe restrained from moving along the rails and may be prevented fromtilting on account of the strain upon the upper portions of thestructures. Clamps of various kinds have been provided for suchstructures, which clamps engage the rails and thus prevent the structurefrom tilting and traveling. Inasmuch, however, as the truck-bases-ofsuch structure are rigid, the wheels of the trucks are usually formedwith broad treads and with ianges at both edges of the treads, so thatthe wheels may'remain upon the rails when the truck-base is moved over acurve of the rails or if a'n inequality in the alinement of the railsoccurs. Arail-clamp for such a truck is usually arranged so as to havethe gap of its jaws center with the tread of the wheel, whicharrangement will bring the clamp out of line with the rail when thetruck is placed upon'a curved or unevenly-alined rail portion, as theclamps with which I am acquainted have usually been rigidly supported inthe truck, such as, for example, the clamp in the hoisting and conveyingtramway mechanism for" which United States Iletters Patent N o. 505,638were granted to me as assignor to the KingBridge Company on the 26th dayof September, 1893.

It is the object of the present invention to improve upon such form ofrail-clamp and to provide a clamp which may at all times be capable ofengaging and clamping the rail.

In the drawings are illustrated portions of the sills or beams A, whichform the base of the upright frame structure, and which are niovablysupported upon the rails' B by wheels, one, C, of which is illustratedin Fig. I, The clamp has a frame D, which is provided with trunnions dupon its sides, near the upper edge, and said trunnions project fore andaft in` their relation to the frame structure and rest in bearings e,formed in transverse plates E between the sills. rlihe jaws CZ/ of theclamp are like the jaws of the clamp set forth in the above-referred-topatent and have links d2 pivoted to their upper arms. Said links arepivoted to a nut da upon an actuating-screw d4, which is journaled inthe clamp-frame and provided with a hand-wheel d5 at its upper end. Thescrew has a knob d upon its lower end, which bears against the treadofthe rail when the screw is turned down and the jaws forced against therail, and which bears against the lower journal-bearing for the screw inthe clampframe when the screw is turned upward and the jaws opened. Thisknob performs the `office of the collar upon the screw in the formerpatent and dispenses with'a rigid bearing in the truck for the screw,which bearing would interfere with the free transverse Swing of theclamp upon its trunnions. Vhen the screw is screwed down and strikes thetread of the rail, the further rotation of the screw will raise the nutand thus spread the upper arms of the jaws, causing the lower arms toclamp the rail. When the screw is screwed up and the knob stops againstthe lower screw-bearing, the screw cannot be further raised, and the nutwill be lowered, loos- IOO ening` the clamp. The clamp may be swung toeither side, so that it will be capable of clamping the rail regardlessof curve or alinement of the rail.

Other modes of applying,` the principle of my invention may be employedfor the mode herein explained. Change may therefore be made as regardsthe mechanism thus disclosed, provided the principles of constructionset forth respectively in the following claims are employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinventionl. The combination with a wheeled truck formed withfore-and-aft bearings, of a railclamp having trunnions upon its sidesjournaled in said bearings to admit of the clamp having,` lateral swing,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a clamp-frame formed with a bearing, jaws pivotedin said frame, a screw journaled to rotate in the bearing of the frameand provided with a knob at its end, a nut upon said screw, and linkspivoted to the nut and to the jaws, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a wheeled truck formed with fore-and-aft bearings,a clampframe having trunnions in said bearings and having verticalbearings, a screw journaled in said latter bearings and provided with ahand-wheel at its upper end and a knob at its lower end, jaws pivoted inthe clampframe, a nut upon the screw, and links pivoted to the jaws andto the nut, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing to be myinvention I havehereunto set my hand this 22d day of October, A. D. 1895.

- PETER RASGH. IVitnesses:

WM. SECHER, DAVID T. DAvIns.

